- Type
- Castle
- Location
- England, United Kingdom
- Visiting
- probably – Wikidata lists it as a museum or gives tickets, opening hours or visitor numbers; check before you go
- Coordinates
- 55.3452°, -1.6118°
History
The castle in a loop of the River Coquet was founded in the mid-12th century and gained stone walls towards the end of that century. In 1332 it passed to the Percys, who made it one of their principal seats. In the late 14th century Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland, built a keep on the motte with an unusual Greek-cross plan. From here Percy and his son Harry Hotspur plotted the rebellion against Henry IV that ended in defeat at Shrewsbury in 1403. After centuries of neglect part of the keep was restored in the 19th century, and the castle is now in the care of English Heritage.
What to see
On top of the motte stands an almost complete keep with a maze of halls, kitchens and storerooms around a central light shaft. The curtain walls with towers, the gatehouse and the ruins of the great hall survive. Below the castle, by the river, is a medieval hermitage cut into the rock and reached by boat. Beside the castle lies a charming small town with a fortified bridge.
Wikipedia article Official website Wikidata Q922422
Popularity: articles about this site in 19 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).